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Town accepts $10,000 Freeport‑McMoRan site grant to expand small‑business coaching tools
Summary
Council accepted a $10,000 Freeport‑McMoRan site grant to the Grow in Sahuarita program and approved a budget amendment to add the funds to the grants and restricted sources fund. Staff says the funds will procure a PlaceRIS subscription and other coaching tools to support micro‑entrepreneurs.
The Town of Sahuarita accepted a $10,000 site grant from Freeport‑McMoRan to support the Grow in Sahuarita small‑business coaching program.
Economic development staff presented metrics from 2024: 88 clients onboarded (14 active), 400+ coaching hours delivered, 354 client action items and 58 client goals completed. Staff said the program focuses on ideation, incubation and acceleration phases and partners with the Small Business Development Center, SCORE, Pima Community College and local chambers.
Use of grant funds: Alex Magallanes and program coach Hillary told the council the Freeport grant will fund a 12‑month PlaceRIS subscription and other market‑intelligence and coaching tools, giving small businesses no‑cost access to competitive analysis, CRM functionality and market research. Staff said the tools will help home‑based and micro‑entrepreneurs who make up a large share of the town’s small‑business base.
Council action: The council moved, seconded and approved acceptance of the $10,000 grant and an amendment to the grants and restricted sources fund to increase grant revenue and economic development departmental expenditures by $10,000.
Why it matters: Staff noted that a significant share of new businesses are home‑based and that small businesses generate a large proportion of local jobs; program leaders said coaching and technology tools increase business sustainability and readiness for capital access.
What’s next: Staff will procure the PlaceRIS subscription, onboard Grow in Sahuarita clients to the platform and report back to council on program outcomes.
